Warmachine: Wrath Review
Being the first major expansion in Mk. II, this is a big release. Alongside the faction books, Wrath sets the stage for the next major plot arc. It adds yet another Warcaster to each faction. It introduces the rules for Battle Engines, and it is the first book that heavily diverges from the “normal” faction expansions. As always, there are pages of background, model photo’s, and painting guides focusing on (appropriately enough) the enormous Battle Engine models. This is also the first expansion to include the Retribution alongside the other factions in one book.
The book is 175 full color pages. As with other similar expansion books, this one features completely new artwork and background to advance the storyline. In fact, this book is really the beginning of the next major plot arc for the Warmachine factions. I won’t spoil the details for those who haven’t read it, but I get the sense PP is starting to explore the consequences/fallout from the decisions made to this point.
In prior expansions, every faction would get one or two new Warcasters, two or three Warjacks, one or two units, and a couple solo’s. The precise numbers would vary from faction to faction, but the formula was there. Every faction, including Mercenaries, has a new caster, and two character Warjacks but beyond that the precise numbers start blurring.
Cygnar has it’s Morrowan melee-infantry-buffing caster, four Warjacks, a Swordknight character solo, a mercenary unit attachment, and its Battle Engine. Menoth has a Daughters of the Flame Warcaster, three Warjacks, a mercenary unit attachment, a Flameguard Cleanser unit attachment, an awesome character solo, and the Battle Engine. Khador has it’s Warcaster (who works well with ranged Warjacks), three Warjacks (look for the Demolisher coming to a battlefield near you), a UA for mechaniks who heals Man-O-War’s, a two-model assassin unit, a mercenary unit UA, and the Battle Engine. Cryx has it’s ‘caster, four Warjacks, a Revenant Crew weapon attachment, a ‘Jack Marshall solo, and the Wraith Engine. Retribution has its Warcaster, six Warjacks, a heavy rifle light artillery unit, a Battle Mage solo, and the Arcantrik Force Generator. And last but not least, Merc’s have their Warcaster who does awesome things with Steelheads, two ‘Jacks, the Ogrun Assault Corps unit, and two solos, one of which is a Mercenary Warcaster attachment for Cygnar, Khador, and the Retribution.
The tactical reviews will have their own articles, but as a general sum up, this is a solid release. Both Vinter and Magnus show up, and at the end, the lives of two major Warcasters hang in the balance. I smell a move to Epic for one of them. I like the direction they’re heading with the plot arc. Things that have been building since the beginning are finally starting to shape the larger conflict. The model balance seems to be very good. There looks to be very little that is overtly why-would-you-ever-not-take-this-awesome, little that is wouldn’t-take-this-if-you-paid-me-bad, with most things appearing to be good in the right types of lists with the right types of Warcasters. The new Warcasters all appear to bring something different to their factions that they didn’t have much of till now.
I like it, and it saddens me that I’ll have to give Bigred his copy back. My one major criticism is that it still has no map, which makes some places/events hard to follow. Still, PP did a good job with this book. I’m eagerly awaiting the Hordes expansion coming later this year.
~Have at it folks. What are your thoughts on Wrath and your favorite new units?
